Earth boring machine positioning system

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a system for moving an earth boring machine from an initial position on a floor to a desired drilling position on the floor. A rotation pedestal is positioned beneath the drive spindle of the earth boring machine when the earth boring machine is in the initial position. The drive spindle of the earth boring machine is connected to the rotation pedestal. The thrust system of the earth boring machine is actuated thereby raising the base of the earth boring machine above the floor. A rotational force is applied to the earth boring machine thereby rotating the earth boring machine on the rotation pedestal. The thrust system is actuated in the opposite direction thereby lowering the base into the desired drilling position.

United States Patent Williams et al.

SYSTEM EARTH BORING MACHINE POSITIONING [75] Inventors: Raymond Leroy Williams; Ross Weldon Walker, both of Beaumont, Tex.

[73] Assignee: Dresser Industries, Inc., Dallas, TeX.

[22] Filed: June 28, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 484,046

[52] US. Cl. 173/1; 173/39; 173/44; 175/57; 299/31 [51] Int. Cl.*... E21B 7/02; E21C 29/00; E21C 5/00 [58] Field of Search 299/31; 175/85, 57, 315; 173/1, 39, 44,46, 31-37 [56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 3,057,416 10/1962 Carlson et a1 173/44 X 3,220,494 11/1965 Cannon et a1. 175/57 X 3,563,322 2/1971 Young et a1. 175/57 3,568,779 3/1971 Cannon 173/44 3,584,918 6/1971 Gaglione et a1 299/31 3,604,754 9/1971 Kampf-Emden 299/31 X 3,750,769 8/1973 Young et a1. 175/85 3,762,578 10/1973 Cooper et al 175/85 X 3,780,816 12/1973 Arrington et a]. 173/39 X Primary ExaminerDavid H. Brown Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Eddie E. Scott [57] ABSTRACT The present invention provides a system for moving an earth boring machine from an initial position on a floor to a desired drilling position on the floor. A rotation pedestal is positioned beneath the drive spindle of the earth boring machine when the earth boring machine is in the initial position. The drive spindle of the earth boring machine is connected to the rotation pedestal. The thrust system of the earth boring machine is actuated thereby raising the base of the earth boring machine above the floor. A rotational force is applied to the earth boring machine thereby rotating the earth boring machine on the rotation pedestal. The thrust system is actuated in the opposite direction thereby lowering the base into the desired drilling position.

PATENTEUSEP 1 19 5 3. 905 ,426

snznzu g PATENTEUSEP 1 61975 $905,426 H SHEET 5 UPS EARTH BORING MACHINE POSITIONING SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the art of earth boring and more particularly to a system for positioning an earth boring machine in a desired position for drilling.

Underground earth boring machines must be transported through small diameter openings and drifts and subsequently be placed in a position for drilling. Very often the drill line of the hole to be drilled extends at an angle to the horizontal. When the earth boring machine is unloaded from the transport vehicle, it is quite likely that it will not be in the correct position for drilling a hole along the desired drill line. Because of the weight of the machine and the confines of the drift, it is very difficult to turn the machine to a position for drilling along the desired drill line. A need clearly exists for a simple and reliable system for positioning an earth boring machine in a desired drilling position within the confines of a mine.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART Prior art systems of turning earth boring machines consist of the use of special crawler type transport vehicles, the disassembly of the machine and the use of hoists.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a system for moving an earth boring machine to a desired position for drilling. The earth boring machine is transported to the drill site. A rotation pedestal is positioned in front of the machine. The earth boring machine is moved to a position wherein the drive spindle of the machine engages a connection on the rotation pedestal. The thrust system of the earth boring machine is actuated to raise the machine base a sufficient distance to allow the machine to be rotated on the rotation pedestal. The base is then rotated until the machine is in the desired position for drilling. The thrust system is again actuated in the opposite direction lowering the base to the operating position. The above and other features of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows the earth boring machine being transported to the drill site.

FIG. 2 shows the earth boring machine connected to the rotation pedestal.

FIG. 3 shows the base of the machine elevated.

FIG. 4 shows the earth boring machine after it has been rotated to a desired drilling position.

FIG. 5 shows the earth boring machine connected to the rotation pedestal for rotation in extremely narrow mines.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1, an earth boring machine generally designated by the reference number is shown being transported to a drill site on a transport vehicle 11. The transport vehicle I 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a rail car adapted to move along a set of rails 12. It is to be understood that other types of transport vehicles could be used to transport the earth boring machine 10. A concrete pad 13 has been located at the drill site and a rotation pedestal 14 is positioned on the concrete pad 13.

The earth boring machine 10 includes a base 15 consisting of a generally H shaped frame. A cross member 16 connects the two side members of the base 15. A pair of support columns, one column 17 being shown in FIG. 1, are rotatably connected to the base 15 by a pair of hinge elements, one hinge 18 being shown in FIG. 1. A traveling carriage 19 is mounted between the support columns and adapted to travel along the length of the support columns. A pair of hydraulic cylinders, one cylinder 20 being shown in FIG. 1, are connected between the traveling carriage 19 and the lower end of the support columns to provide force for moving the traveling carriage along the support columns. The piston rods of the hydraulic cylinders, piston rod 21 being shown in FIG. 1, are attached to the hinges on the support columns. A drill head 22 is connected to the traveling carriage 19 and is adapted to move with the traveling carriage 19 in response to force from the hydraulic cylinders. A spindle 23 extends from the drill head 22. A hydraulic motor 24 provides power for driving the drill head 22 and rotating spindle 23.

A driving connection 25, threaded, splined, square or otherwise, projects from the rotation pedestal 14. The driving connection 25 is adapted to engage matching connections on the spindle 23. The rotation pedestal 14 may in some instances be bolted to the concrete pad 13 and/or support brackets 26 may be attached to the rotation pedestal 14 to provide support during rotation.

The structural details of the elements of a system for turning an earth boring machine having been described, the steps of turning the earth boring machine will now be discussed with reference to FIGS. 1-4. The earth boring machine 10 is transported to the drill site on the transport vehicle 11. The earth boring machine 10 may be unloaded at the drilling site and the support columns 17 raised to their upright position or the support columns could be simply raised to their upright position while the base 15 is resting on the transport vehi-. cle 1 l. A pair of back braces, one back brace 27 being shown in FIGS. 24, are connected between the base 15 and the support columns. The brace 27 is connected to the base 15 by a pin 30 and to support column 17 by pin 29. The length of the braces may be adjusted. For example, the length of brace 27 is adjusted by a threaded rotatable sleeve 28. The braces hold the support columns in the desired position relative to base 15.

The hydraulic cylinders are actuated to move the traveling carriage 19 until the drive spindle 23 of drill head 22 engages the connection 25 on the rotation pedestal 14. The hydraulic motor 24 is actuated to drive drill head 22 and rotate drive spindle 23 to engage the connection between the drive spindle 23 and connection 25. The thrust cylinders are then actuated to raise the base 15. As shown in FIG. 3, the base 15 is raised above the floor and the entire earth boring machine 10 is supported on the rotation pedestal 14.

With the base 15 suspended above the floor as shown in FIG. 3, the earth boring machine 10 is rotated on the rotation pedestal 14 until the base 15 is immediately above the desired drilling position. Rotation of the earth boring machine 10 may be accomplished by applying a force to the outer end of the base 15 or by actuating the hydraulic motor 24 to drive drill head 22 and apply a rotating force to the drive spindle 23 which will swing the base 15 around the rotation pedestal 14 to the desired position. As shown in FIG. 4, the earth boring machine has been rotated until the base is on the opposite side of the rotation pedestal 14 from the initial position. The hydraulic cylinders have been actuated to lower the base 15 to the floor. The drive spindle 23 has been disconnected from the rotation pedestal 14. Further actuation of the hydraulic cylinders has raised the traveling carriage l9, drill head 22 and drive spindle 23 above the rotation pedestal 14. The rotation pedestal 14 may now be removed and the earth boringmachine is in position for drilling. If the drill line of the hole to be drilled is to extend at an angle, the brace 27 may be shortened to change the angle between the base 15 and the support columns. It will be appreciated that the earth boring machine 10 may be rotated on the rotation pedestal 14 various increments to position the machine at different desired locations.

The earth boring machine 10 must operate in the confines of a mine and must be transported through narrow openings and drifts of small diameter. In the collapsed position shown in FIG. 1, the earth boring machine 10 can be transported through a drift having a relative small diameter. The area at the drill site can be enlarged to accommodate the earth boring machine. However, it must be appreciated that enlarging the drift is an expensive and time consuming operation. It will also be appreciated that the area around the drill site would have to be enlarged substantially to accommodate a separate vehicle for changing the position of the earth boring machine.

It is very often necessary to change the position of the earth boring machine in order to drill holes at an angle to the vertical and extending in a direction other than the direction the machine is capable of drilling when the machine is unloaded in its initial position. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the drill head 22 is in a position for drilling vertically downward. By changing the length of brace 27, the drilling angle can be changed so that the hole being drilled is inclined. In most drills of this type, the angle the support columns make with the base can be an angle from somewhat above 0 90. Angles greater than 90 are generally not used. Therefore, if the hole is to be inclined in any direction other than the various possible angles available when the machine is in the initial position shown in FIG. 2, the base of the machine must be moved to a different position.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the steps of turning an earth boring machine in an extremely narrow drift will now be discussed. The earth boring machine 31 is transported to the drill site on a suitable transport vehicle. The earth boring machine 31 is unloaded at the drill site and the support columns, one support column 42 being shown in FIG. 5, are raised to their upright position. A pair of back braces (not shown) are connected between the base 38 of the earth boring machine 31 and the support columns. The hydraulic cylinders, one

hydraulic cylinder 40 being shown in FIG. 5, are actu-' drive drill head 33 and apply a rotational force to drive spindle 34 and rotate the earth boring machine to the desired position. After the earth boring machine 31 has been rotated to the desired position. the base 38 is rotated on hinge 39 until it is in a horizontal position. The back braces are inserted between the base 38 and the support columns. The hydraulic cylinders are actuated thereby lowering base 38 to the floor. The drive spindle 34 is disconnected from the rotation pedestal 35. The hydraulic cylinders are actuated to raise thetraveling carriage 41, drill head 33, and drive spindle 34 above the rotation pedestal 35. The rotation pedestal 35 can then be removed and the earth boring machine will be in position for drilling.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A method of moving an earth boring machine from an initial position on a floor to a desired position on the floor, said earth boring machine having a drive spindle, a thrust system and a base, comprising the steps of:

placing a rotation pedestal beneath the drive spindle of the earth boring machine when the earth boring machine is in said initial position;

connecting the drive spindle of the earth boring ma chine to the rotation pedestal;

actuating said thrust system thereby positioning said base above the floor; applying a rotational force to said earth boring machine thereby rotating the earth boring machine on the rotation pedestal; and

actuating said thrust system thereby lowering said base until said earth boring machine is in the desired position. 2. A method of turning an earth boring machine from an initial position on a floor to a desired position on the floor, said earth boring machine having a drive spindle with a vertical axis, a thrust system, and a base, comprising the steps of:

placing a rotation pedestal with a central axis beneath the drive spindle on the boring machine when the earth boring machine is in said initial position, the vertical axis of the drive spindle being aligned with the axis of the rotation pedestal;

connecting the drive spindle of the earth boring machine to the rotation pedestal;

actuating said thrust system thereby positioning said base above the floor; applying a rotational force to said earth boring machine thereby rotating the earth boring machine about the central axis of the rotation pedestal; and actuating said thrust system thereby lowering said base until said earth boring machine is in the desired position. 3. A method of turning an earth boring machine from an initial position on a floor to a desired drilling position on the floor, said earth boring machine having a drive spindle with a vertical axis, a thrust system, and a base, comprising the steps of:

placing a rotation pedestal with a central axis beneath the drive spindle on the boring machine when the earth boring machine is in said initial position, the vertical axis of the drive spindle being aligned with the axis of the rotation pedestal;

connecting the drive spindle of the earth boring machine to the rotation pedestal;

6 actuating said thrust system thereby positioning said moving said base to a position substantially perpenhflsc above the floor; dicular to.the vertical axis of the drive spindle; and

moving said base to a position substantially parallel to the vertical axis of the drive spindle;

applying a rotational force to said earth boring machine thereby rotating the earth boring machine sired drilling Positionabout the central axis of the rotation pedestal;

actuating said thrust system thereby lowering said base until said earth boring machine is in the de- 

1. A method of moving an earth boring machine from an initial position on a floor to a desired position on the floor, said earth boring machine having a drive spindle, a thrust system and a base, comprising the steps of: placing a rotation pedestal beneath the drive spindle of the earth boring machine when the earth boring machine is in said initial position; connecting the drive spindle of the earth boring machine to the rotation pedestal; actuating said thrust system thereby positioning said base above the floor; applying a rotational force to said earth boring machine thereby rotating the earth boring machine on the rotation pedestal; and actuating said thrust system thereby lowering said base until said earth boring machine is in the desired position.
 2. A method of turning an earth boring machine from an initial position on a floor to a desired position on the floor, said earth boring machine having a drive spindle with a vertical axis, a thrust system, and a base, comprising the steps of: placing a rotation pedestal with a central axis beneath the drive spindle on the boring machine when the earth boring machine is in said initial position, the vertical axis of the drive spindle being aligned with the axis of the rotation pedestal; connecting the drive spindle of the earth boring machine to the rotation pedestal; actuating said thrust system thereby positioning said base above the floor; applying a rotational force to said earth boring machine thereby rotating the earth boring machine about the central axis of the rotation pedestal; and actuating said thrust system thereby lowering said base until said earth boring machine is in the desired position.
 3. A method of turning an earth boring machine from an initial position on a floor to a desired drilling position on the floor, said earth boring machine having a drive spindle with a vertical axis, a thrust system, and a base, comprising the steps of: placing a rotation pedestal with a central axis beneath the drive spindle on the boring machine when the earth boring machine is in said initial position, the vertical axis of the drive spindle being aligned with the axis of the rotation pedestal; connecting the drive spindle of the earth boring machine to the rotation pedestal; actuating said thrust system thereby positioning said base above the floor; moving said base to a position substantially parallel to the vertical axis of the drive spindle; applying a rotational force to said earth boring machine thereby rotating the earth boring machine about the central axis of the rotation pedestal; moving said base to a position substantially perpendicular to the vertical axis of the drive spindle; and actuating said thrust system thereby lowering said base until said earth boring machine is in the desired drilling position. 